Combined christmas tree lamp holder and attaching clamp



s- 1937- J. L. BUSSEY 2,089,111

COMBINED CHRISTMAS TREE LAMP HOLDER AND ATTAOHING CLAMP I Filed March 4 1936 Jail/as 4.511886% n-ronuzy Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CHRISTMAS TREE LAMP HOLD- ER AND ATTACHING CLAMP 2 Claims.

This invention relates to Christmas tree lamp holders, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will provide a positive securing means for an electric socket to a tree so that the lamp of said socket will maintain a selected position and which permits the lamp to be so placed that the heat therefrom will not create fire hazard and also permit the lamp or its socket to be easily applied or removed from the tree.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be'had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating a Christmas tree lamp holder constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a front elevation illustrating the device.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the blank from which one section of the device is constructed.

Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating a blank from which the second section of the device is constructed.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a split clamp forming an integral part of an elongated strip 2 which extends at an angle to the clamp and is curved, as shown in Figure 3, and tapers towards the clamp. The strip 2 forms one jaw of the clamp and the strip at one end and at opposite edges is bent and serrated to form teeth 3. A strip 4 is shaped similar to the strip 2 but of greater length to form an extension 5. The strip 4 provides a companion jaw to the jaw formed by the strip 2 and is provided at opposite edges and at one end with teeth 6 to cooperate with the teeth 3 in gripping a limb or branch of a tree. Ears I are formed on the strip 4 adjacent the extension 5 and are bent at right angles to the strip 4 and cooperate with ears 8 formed on the clamp I in forming a part of a hinge. The ears I and 8 are apertured to receive a pin 9 completing the hinge between the jaws. A spring ID is supported by the pin and bears against the strips 2 and 4 for urging the gripping ends thereof in the direction of one another. The extension 5 projects beyond the clamp l and at an angle thereto to form a finger piece whereby the jaws may be readily pivoted or moved apart to permit adaptation of the jaws to a limb of a tree. The jaws and clamp described may be constructed from blanks, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, thus permitting the device to be stamped out from metal or any other material suitable for the purpose and at a low cost. The split clamp l is capable of a limited flexation so that it will readily adjust itself to electric sockets of different sizes and with an electric lamp socket adapted to the clamp and the jaws to the limb of a tree the electric lamp carried by the socket will be positively secured to the tree against accidental displacement and at any position selected.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A Christmas tree lamp holder comprising a strip having teeth at one end and having its opposite end curved upwardly, a split clamp carried by the curved end of the arm, a second strip conforming in shape to the first strip and having teeth at one end thereof cooperating with the teeth of the first strip, said strip being pivoted together at their curved ends, and spring means for urging the toothed ends of the strips towards each other.

2. A Christmas tree lamp holder adapted to be secured to a limb of a Christmas tree comprising a pair of strips having cooperating teeth at one of their ends, the strips having their other ends curved upwardly from the limb to which the holder is attached, a split clamp carried by the upwardly curved end of one of the strips, said strips being pivotally connected together at their upwardly curved ends, the pivot including ears punched from the split clamp, and spring means for urging the toothed ends of the strips together.

JAMES L. BUSSEY. 

